Jul 01, 2009
CYCLISTS TO CIRCLE MANHATTAN AT THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY BIKE MS NYC TRAFFIC FREE SUNDAY OCTOBER 4, 2009
5,000 participants will raise $3 million in the movement toward a world free of MS
For immediate release
Contact: Meghan Finn
212-453-3250
mfinn@msnyc.org
New York, NY - The New York City Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society will host Bike MS New York City Traffic Free on Sunday, October 4. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Bike MS NYC Traffic Free is one of the largest one -day charity bike events in the country and has become a preeminent cycling event in Manhattan because it is uniquely limited to only 5,000 participants. Bike MS is expected to raise $3 million in support of national multiple sclerosis research, and the hundreds of annual programs and services the chapter provides people living with MS, their friends and families in the five boroughs.
Bike MS NYC Traffic Free is the only bike route that provides participants the exciting opportunity to circle Manhattan on 30 miles of closed roadways such as the West Side Highway and FDR Drive; cyclists can also choose to ride through a traffic free tube of the Lincoln Tunnel to continue on to the 66 or 100 mile routes that venture up the Palisades and over the George Washington Bridge on roads open to vehicular traffic. For cyclists, Bike MS NYC Traffic Free is not only about being part of the movement toward a world free of MS by raising critical funds; it is also an opportunity to increase MS awareness and promote a healthy lifestyle.
“We are extremely excited about this year’s Bike MS NYC Traffic Free. For 25 years, the chapter has been privileged to host this incredible event and we’re thrilled to continue providing our supporters such an exciting and rewarding experience,” said Ruth Brenner, president of the NYC Chapter. “None of this would be possible without the generous support of our volunteers, sponsors
and participants who contribute their time, energy, and fundraising efforts. We expect this to be one of our most successful, safe and enjoyable rides yet!”
Each participant is required to raise a minimum of $100. Riders will choose a 30, 66, or 100 mile route, and the event starts and ends at Pier 94. The 66 and 100 mile routes will take cyclists through a traffic-free tube of the Lincoln Tunnel and an exhilarating ride across the George Washington Bridge.
WHAT: 25th Annual Bike MS New York City Traffic Free
WHEN: 7:30 a.m. Sunday, October 4, 2009
WHERE: Start/finish line at Pier 94 (West 54th Street and the West Side Highway)
WHY: Proceeds go to national MS research, and annual programs and services for people living with MS, their friends and families in the five boroughs.
Visit www.bikeMSnyc.org to register, volunteer or get more information.
2009 Bike MS Sponsors
Barclay’s Capital, Pure Protein, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Vitamin Shoppe, New York Stock Exchange/Euronext, Financial Times, New York Post, WABC-TV, RXP 101.9, Jamaica Hospital, Bianchi USA, and El Conquistador/Luxury Resorts.
About the New York City Chapter
The New York City Chapter of the National MS Society is committed to helping the thousands of New Yorkers impacted by MS continue moving their lives forward. The chapter raises funds locally to support the Society’s critical research initiatives and to provide hundreds of comprehensive support services and educational programs for people living with MS, their family and friends. Visit www.MSnyc.org for more information.
About Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis interrupts the flow of information between the brain and the body and it stops people from moving. Every hour in the United States someone is newly diagnosed with MS, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with more than twice as many women as men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S., and 2.5 million worldwide.
About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
The National MS Society mobilizes people and resources to drive research for a cure and to address the challenges of everyone affected by MS. In 2008 alone, the Society invested over $50 million to support 444 research projects around the world. Early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can make a difference for people with multiple sclerosis. Learn about your options by talking to your health care professional and contacting the National MS Society at nationalMSsociety.org or 1-800-344-4867 (1-800-FIGHT-MS).
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